Cable entry for a switch cabinet

ABSTRACT

A cable entry for a switch cabinet having an opening positioned in a floor of the switch cabinet and surrounded by a connecting layer. The opening can be closed off with bottom plates which can be placed one next to each other and connected to the connecting layer. The sides of adjoining bottom plates assigned to each other have angled edges fitted with sealing strips. The cables are fed into the switch cabinet between the sealing strips and sealed by deformation of the sealing strips. This invention provides for the edges of the bottom plates to be configured as a double fold, a first section of which points towards the upper or lower side of the bottom plate while the second end section of the double fold extends across the first section and protrudes from the lower or upper side of the bottom plate. The sealing strips extend across the width of the end section of the double fold. This results in a sufficiently broad sealing area using a simple bottom plate which only insignificantly limits the installation space available above and below the bottom plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cable lead-in for a switchgear cabinet withan opening in a bottom of the switchgear cabinet, which is surrounded bya connecting support. The opening can be closed by bottom plates, whichcan be lined up with each other and connected with the connectingsupport. The sides of adjoining bottom plates which are associated witheach other have beveled edges with sealing strips fastened thereon, andthe cables are inserted into the switchgear cabinet and sealed bydeforming the sealing strips.

2. Description of Related Art

Such a cable lead-in is known from German Patent Reference DE 78 16 729U1 wherein sealing strips are embodied as plastic foam blocks. Whenadjoining bottom plates are lined up with each other, the cablesintroduced between the plastic foam blocks of adjoining bottom platesare sealed. While lining up, the bottom plates are pressed against eachother and the plastic foam blocks are deformed in the process. In thiscase the edges of the bottom plates are uniformly beveled toward oneside of the bottom plates, so that with a sufficiently wide sealing areathere must be sufficient space on this side of the bottom plates forthese edges. Thus, the installation space above the bottom plate iscorrespondingly reduced.

As shown in German Patent Reference DE 196 04 219 C1, it is also knownto attach an additional edge on one side of a bottom plate, which isoriented toward the other side of the bottom plate. In this way edgeareas are created outside of the sealing strip, which can have a row offastening means for the strain-relieved and/or electrically conductingconnection of the cables with the bottom plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to provide a cable lead-in of thetype mentioned above but which results in a sufficiently wide sealingarea without essentially restricting the installation space above andunder the bottom plate, and without making production of the bottomplate considerably more expensive.

In accordance with this invention, this object is achieved with edges ofthe bottom plates designed as double seams, one section of which ispointed toward the top or bottom of the bottom plate, while the secondend section of the double seam extends both over the first section andprojects in relation to the top or bottom of the bottom plate. Thesealing strip extends over the width of the end section of the doubleseam.

The edge of the bottom plate embodied as a double seam is easy toproduce and extends over both sides of the bottom plate. Thus, even witha broader sealing area the installation space above as well as under thebottom plate is only negligibly restricted.

So that the bottom plate can be easily connected with the connectionsupport of the switchgear cabinet, in one embodiment on the sideswithout a double seam the bottom plate extends past the double seam bymeans of support edges. In this case, the double seam does not interferewith the placement of the bottom plate on the connection support of theswitchgear cabinet.

If a cable lead-in is provided on only one side of the bottom plate, thebottom plate is simplified because the bottom plates have asingle-beveled edge on the side opposite the double seam.

The single-beveled edge does not interfere with the connection betweenthe bottom plate and the connection support if the single-beveled edgeprojects away from the underside of the bottom plate and terminates infront of the support sections of the bottom plate.

The corners of the support sections of the bottom plate are preferablyslanted.

In one preferred embodiment, the end section of the double seam projectspast equal portions on the top and bottom of the bottom plate.

If a strain-relieved or electrically conducting connection of the cableswith the bottom plate is desired, in a further embodiment the endsection of the double seam is widened at least on one side past thefixed-in-place sealing strip and has in this area at least one row offastening means for the strain-relieved and/or electrically conductingconnection of the cables with the bottom plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This invention will be explained in greater detail by means of apreferred embodiment represented in a perspective view in the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The bottom plate 10, which is shown in a perspective view in thedrawing, is designed as a rectangle and has a cable guide on only oneside. This long side has a double seam, which is beveled off this sideof the bottom plate 10, in a simple manner. In this case a first section11 is oriented toward the top 18 of the bottom plate, and an end section12 extends over and rests on the first section 1, and does not protrudeat the bottom 17 of the bottom plate 10. The sealing strip 20, designedas a plastic foam block, extends over an entire width of the end section12. The double seam terminates at both ends in front of the narrow sidesof the bottom plate 10, which are used as support edges 13 forconnecting the bottom plate 10 with the connection support of theswitchgear cabinet. The edges of the bottom plate 10 are slanted, asindicated by means of the inclines 14 and 15. On the side opposite thedouble seam with the sealing strip 20, the bottom plate 10 has a singleedge 16 angled toward the bottom 17 which, corresponding to the doubleseam, terminates in front of the support edges 13. It is possible toalso provide this side of the bottom plate 10 with a double seam and asealing strip 20. Also, the first section 11 can be directed toward thebottom 17, and the single-beveled edge 16 of the bottom plate 10 towardthe top of the bottom plate 10.

The end section 12 can also be widened past the sealing strip 20 andhave a row of fastening means for the strain-relieved and/orelectrically-conducting connection of the inserted cables with thebottom plate 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a cable lead-in for a switchgear cabinet withan opening in a bottom of the switchgear cabinet, wherein the opening issurrounded by a connecting support, the opening can be closed by abottom plate which can be lined up with other like bottom plates andconnected with the connecting support, first sides of the bottom platewhich are associated with the other like bottom plates have bevelededges with fastened sealing strips, and cables are inserted into theswitchgear cabinet and sealed by deforming the sealing strips, theimprovement comprising: an edge of the bottom plate (10) designed as adouble seam including a first section (11) pointed toward one of a topand a bottom of the bottom plate (10) and a second section (12) of thedouble seam extending over the first section (11) and projecting inrelation to the one of the top and the bottom of the bottom plate (10),and a sealing strip (20) extending over a width of the second section(12) of the double seam.
 2. In the cable lead-in in accordance withclaim 1, wherein on second sides without the double seam, support edges(13) of the bottom plate (10) extend beyond the double seam.
 3. In thecable lead-in in accordance with claim 2, wherein the bottom plate (10)has a single-beveled edge (16) on a third side opposite the double seam.4. In the cable lead-in in accordance with claim 3, wherein thesingle-beveled edge (16) projects away from the bottom of the bottomplate (10) and terminates in front of the support edges (13) of thebottom plate (10).
 5. In the cable lead-in in accordance with claim 4,wherein corners of the support edge (13) having inclines (14, 15).
 6. Inthe cable lead-in in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second section(12) of the double seam projects past equal portions on the top and thebottom of the bottom plate (10).
 7. In the cable lead-in in accordancewith claim 5, wherein the second section (12) of the double seam iswidened at least on one side beyond the fixed sealing strip (20) and hasin an area at least one row of fastening means for at least one of astrain-relieved and an electrically conducting connection of the cableswith the bottom plate (10).
 8. In the cable lead-in in accordance withclaim 2, wherein corners of the support edges (13) have inclines (14,15).
 9. In the cable lead-in in accordance with claim 1, wherein thebottom plate (10) has a single-beveled edge (16) on a second sideopposite the double seam.
 10. In the cable lead-in in accordance withclaim 9, wherein the single-beveled edge (16) projects away from thebottom of the bottom plate (10) and terminates in front of support edges(13) of the bottom plate (10).
 11. In the cable lead-in in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the second section (12) of the double seamprojects past equal portions on the top and the bottom of the bottomplate (10).
 12. In the cable lead-in in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe second section (12) of the double seam is widened at least on oneside beyond the fixed sealing strip (20) and has in an area at least onerow of fastening means for at least one of a strain-relieved and anelectrically conducting connection of the cables with the bottom plate(10).